The Best Travel Credit Cards In Canada Of 2018

Travel credit cards can make your plans to see the world a lot easier. If you’re new to travel credit cards, it’s a type of card that allows you to earn points towards flights and free hotel stays through various rewards programs.

The right travel card can offer cardholders exceptional value, such as access to VIP lounges, upgrades, and special bonuses. If you’re looking to plan a trip, signing up for a travel card is a great way to start because of the huge sign-up bonuses.

In order to plan that dream vacation, you’ll need a great travel card and a strategy to help you maximize your rewards. The folks at Borrowell have a shared love of traveling, exploring, and saving money – and I do, too! Here are the best travel credit cards in Canada of 2018.

The Best Travel Credit Cards In Canada Of 2018

1. CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card

Get a welcome bonus of 15,000 Aventura points

$100 travel credit when you book travel with an Aventura Travel Assistant

Comprehensive travel insurance package included

$120 annual fee (first-year annual fee rebate)

19.99% annual interest rate

As of October 15, 2018, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card comes with some new benefits including a Priority Pass membership with four free annual visits and enhanced travel insurance.

If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also get mobile device insurance coverage up to $1,000 and a rebate on your NEXUS application fee. Oh, and you still get a welcome bonus of 15,000 Aventura points and a $100 travel credit when you book travel with an Aventura Travel Assistant. Those are some incredible benefits you’re getting with this card, making it one of the best travel credit cards in Canada.

With the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card, you’ll earn 1.5 points for every $1 spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and drugstores. All other purchases earn you 1 point for every $1 spent with the exception of travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards which gives you 2 points per $1 spent.

This card’s interest rate is 19.99% and 22.99% on cash advances. The annual fee is $120, which is rebated the first year. Check your credit score with Borrowell to see if you could qualify for this awesome card!

2. Starwood Preferred Guest®*Credit Card from American ExpressTM

Get a welcome bonus of 50,000 Points

Receive an Annual Free Night Award after your anniversary each year

Complimentary Silver Elite status

$120 annual fee

19.99% annual interest rate

Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott Rewards recently merged and have become the world’s largest hotel loyalty program. This is incredible news since you can now use your points at 6,500+ properties in more than 110 countries.

With the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, you get 50,000 points after you charge $1,500 in purchases to your card in your first three months of card membership. That’s enough for four free nights at a category two hotel. Heck, it’s technically good enough for five free nights since SPG/Marriott has an ongoing promotion where you get the 5th-night free when you book four nights with your points.

When it comes to the earn rate with the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, you’ll get 5 points for every $1 in eligible card purchases at participating SPG and Marriott Rewards properties and 2 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Although there is an annual fee, the annual free night credit award is good for any hotel up to 35,000 points so you easily come out ahead every year, making it one of the best travel credit cards in Canada you could choose!

What’s appealing about the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is that your Scotia Rewards can be used for any type of travel. You can use them by calling Scotiabank’s full-service travel agency or by charging your travel purchases to your Scotiabank Gold American Express Card and then redeeming your points for a statement credit after. What that means is that you get to claim any type of travel reward without having to worry about blackout dates.

The sign-up bonus of 15,000 Scotia Rewards points has a value of $150, but what really attracts people to this card are the multipliers. You’ll earn 4 points for every $1 spent on gas, grocery, dining, and entertainment purchases. All other purchases get you 1 point for every $1 spent.

The travel emergency insurance covers trips up to 25 days for those under the age of 65 and 10 days if you’re 65+. Other major travel insurance such as trip cancellation/trip interruption, flight delay, and lost baggage also come included with this card. The travel insurance alone makes the $99 annual fee worthwhile.

Now that you know the best travel credit cards in Canada, it’s time to start racking up rewards so you can plan your next vacation.

Check your free credit score through Borrowell and visit the “My Recommendations” tab on your credit dashboard to see all the financial products available to you.

Editorial Note: Our editors’ opinions are their own and content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when it is posted. Borrowell does receive compensation from third-party advertisers, but it does not affect our editors’ opinions.

BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the application link above for the most up to date information.